Everyone has at least one flavor that brings back memories of earlier days. The tanuki cakes introduced here are just that kind of treat.
They used to be a familiar sight, but today they have apparently become quite rare, and few shops still carry them.
As the standard of Western-style confectionery in Japan continues to rise, delicious new products naturally replace older ones. Even so, retro sweets like these are far too charming to overlook.
I was not in the mood for cake at all, but I had no idea when I might encounter them again, so I decided to buy them.
Pon-chan and Poko-chan Tanuki Cakes by Saint-Michel at Hakko no Sato
I bought them at Hakko no Sato Kozaki, a roadside station in Chiba Prefecture.
This roadside station is well worth visiting.
I discovered these adorable tanuki cakes in the refrigerated section of the shop that sells vegetables and prepared foods.
A box containing two cakes costs 550 yen.
The sight of two cute little tanuki lined up together is delightful! Each one even has a different expression.
Their names are Pon-chan and Poko-chan.
Because these are fresh cakes, they should be eaten on the day of purchase.
The ears and tails are made from biscuits.
Their pointed tanuki noses are superb. From the chocolate coating to the shape of each cake, every detail is beautifully crafted and shows the skill of the confectioner.
These tanuki cakes feel wonderfully nostalgic, but I have heard that the number of cake shops selling them has fallen considerably.
That makes these particular tanuki cakes especially precious.
The moment I spotted them, I bought them without hesitation!
Trying the Pon-chan and Poko-chan Tanuki Cakes
We ate them as an afternoon snack in the eat-in area at Hakko no Sato.
Yes, this is it—the buttercream is irresistible.
Fresh whipped cream would surely taste better in an ordinary cake, yet a proper tanuki cake simply has to use buttercream.
The old-fashioned flavor of Japan’s Showa era fills your mouth!
Saint-Michel’s version also has a layer of what seems to be blueberry jam inside. That small touch gives the cake its own personality.
It had been a long time since I last ate a tanuki cake, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. My child complained that only fresh whipped cream would do, which made me laugh. Children today really have grown up surrounded by excellent food.
Thank you for the treat!
You can read more about Hakko no Sato Kozaki, where I bought the cakes, on the page below.
Saint-Michel Pon-chan and Poko-chan Tanuki Cakes Product Info, Expiration Date, Manufacturer
| Product Name | Saint-Michel Pon-chan and Poko-chan Tanuki Cakes |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer / Seller | Hakko no Sato Co., Ltd. |
| Address | 855 Matsuzaki, Kozaki, Katori District, Chiba |
| Expiration Date | Eat on the day of purchase |
| Place of Purchase | Hakko no Sato Kozaki |
| Price | 550 yen |
